Residential Counsellor

**ABOUT US**

SOAR Community Services has been an established part of the community for more than 50 years, and is accredited for our excellence in serving children, youth, adults and families within the communities we serve.

**Our Values**

These aren’t just “lip-service” to us - we work and live by them. If you do, too, we want to talk to you
- Inclusive - we value everyone and their unique perspectives and journeys
- Compassionate - we care about our clients, our staff, partners, and the communities we serve
- Collaborative - we work together to support our clients and community
- Integrity - we hold ourselves accountable and are fair, trustworthy, and dedicated to our mission to empower people to achieve their vision of independence, health, and wellbeing
- Innovative - we are open to change and continuous improvement
- Genuine - we are honest, respectful, and authentic with our clients, each other, and our partners
- Optimistic - we believe that everyone can accomplish their goals

**JOB RESPONSIBILITIES**

Residential Counsellors (RC) support individuals accessing service within our Withdrawal Management and Treatment Services (WMTS) programs. This position works in our 11-bed live-in treatment program for men.

Residential Counsellors work as part of a collaborative team to support individuals making changes to their substance use during their 5-week stay. You support program orientation to ensure people have a welcoming experience when entering care, contribute to client support and transition plans, deliver psychoeducational programming to help clients develop skills to enhance recovery, and facilitate social and recreational activities. You are active and engaged with clients throughout your shift. You make a difference

As a Residential Counsellor, you will:

- Provide orientation to the facility and the program, making program expectations clear
- Provide individual and/or group life skills supports to clients to teach skills such as problem-solving, relapse prevention, communication, and coping strategies
- Contribute to the development of strength-based support and transition plans with clients and help them as they work on their individual plans
- Support safe administration of medications, as needed, to clients in care and document appropriately
- Confidently redirect client behaviour when required, to ensure a physically and emotionally safe space for all
- Be responsive and compassionate to clients within the program
- Document client care issues in our client data system and communicate issues effectively within the team
- Support safe and effective facility functioning through facility tours, light cleaning, and meal preparation

Hours of work: A variety of 8- and 12-hour shifts, days, afternoons, and nights, are available, with most shifts being Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Part-time staff have regularly scheduled shifts and are also expected to be available for occasional call-ins.

Training: Initial comprehensive training related to all aspects of the role, as well as access to ongoing professional development

**COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS**

Hourly wage: Starting at $24.74 per hour plus a $1 per hour shift premium for any overnight or weekend shifts.

**The Perks**
- A Fitness Benefit for gym memberships, exercise equipment and lessons for various physical activities for all staff and their families
- An Employee Assistance Plan for all staff and their families
- Paid time off for all staff
- Fun events for all staff
- Participation in RSP/TFSA plans for all staff, with Agency pension match for Full Time and eligible Part Time staff
- An Agency committed to ensuring your physical and mental health/safety is paramount

**REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS**
- College diploma or certificate in the Human/Social Services field (i.e., Human Service Worker, Social Service Worker, Addiction Care Worker)
- Minimum of 1-year combined education/experience in substance use, concurrent disorders and/or mental health settings, with residential experience preferred (one year of recent experience in management of withdrawal from substances is preferred)
- Proficient in MS Office and be familiar with databases
- Access to reliable transportation
- Able to manage frequent exposure to vicarious traumatic stress
- Provide proof of at least 3 doses of vaccination against COVID-19

Start date: as soon as possible

Reference: PT RC

SOAR Community Services Inc. is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit and traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wyandot, the Haudenosaunee, and some of the Ojibwa Nation. The territory is mutually covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this community, on this territory. We also acknowledge that the settler population has been abl